Starting points set for sentencing Siegelman and Scrushy

MONTGOMERY -- Federal sentencing guidelines suggest that Gov. Don Siegelman should serve 10 to 12 years in prison and HealthSouth founder Richard Scrushy should serve eight to 10, Chief District Judge Mark Fuller said this afternoon.

Federal law says judges should impose a sentence within that range unless they find aggravating or mitigating circumstances that warrant a higher or lower sentence.

Defense lawyers, who are asking for no prison time, this afternoon will urge the judge to be lenient, citing Siegelman's and Scrushy's public service and the needs of their families.

The two men were convicted on federal bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud charges, and Siegelman was convicted on an additional obstruction of justice charge in a government corruption trial. Their sentencing hearing is continuing.

Robert Abrams, who was elected to four-terms as the New York attorney general, testified as a character witness on behalf of Siegelman. Abrams testified the man he knows couldn't have commited crimes of which he was accused.

"He's one of the most genuine, decent, humble human beings that I've ever met, not only in public life but my life," Abrams said. "There's a tremendous sense of humanity and compassion about the man."

Helen Vance, the widow of federal judge Robert Vance, testified that nothing could be gained by sending Don Siegelman to prison. She said Siegelman knows the charges have ended his political career. That's punishment enough, she said.

Siegelman cut his political teeth working for Vance, who was killed by a mail bomb in the late 1980s.

Fuller arrived at the offense levels for Siegelman and Scrushy after rejecting most of their objections to a presentencing report prepared by probation officers.